NewsBriefs: November 2011

The winner of the “Exercise and Recover. Faster.” Carnitine with Carnipure social media contest, from NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, IL has been announced. Laura Hutton, of Channahon, IL, received a white Diamondback Lux mountain bike, at a Fruitful Yield health store in Joliet, IL.

Big Sandy, TX-based A.C. Grace Company held three book-signing sessions for Mark Houston, M.D., and his bookWhat Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Hypertension. The signings were held during the BHRT Symposium A4M Fellowship in Dallas, TX.

GOED of Salt Lake City, UT now has 129 member companies, which marks a 51% increase over last year. The group also expanded its management team, which now includes Adam Ismail, executive director; Harry Rice, Ph.D., vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs; Ellen Schutt, communications director; and Mike Roberts, director of membership development and engagement.

The Natural Products Foundation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for its 2012 NPF Scholarship through January 31, 2012. Students may fill out a preliminary application form online (www.naturalproductsfoundation.org/scholar2012).

Citizens for Health of Washington, D.C. launchedwww.FoodIdentityTheft.com “to alert and inform Americans about misleading labeling on many food, beverage and health products.”

Ultra endurance running champ Sharon Gayter recently used elete Electrolyte Add-In from Mineral Resources International, Inc. (MRI) of Ogden, UT during a race to stay hydrated. She set a new record of 37 hours, 34 minutes during the non-stop 222-km race through the Himalayas. Previously, the record was 48 hours and 50 minutes. In addition, FDA officials visited the MRI production plant as part of a routine GMP inspection. No citations or Form 483 observations were issued. “The FDA inspector said that this was the first inspection where he did not issue a single write up. Obviously, we are very pleased with results of the inspection,” stated Bruce H. Anderson, president and CEO of MRI.

Bioforce USA of Ghent, NY was also the subject of a routine GMP inspection from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The FDA inspector said that our GMP’s were well thought out and obviously being followed,” stated Robert Sheets, operations Manager for Bioforce USA.

To lessen its carbon footprint, New Chapter, Inc. of Brattleboro, VT now offers product information in an e-catalog, found at NewChapter.com/catalog. The catalog includes sound, video and images.

In other news, New Chapter announced that its Bone Strength Take Care supplement was found in a preclinical trial to support a healthy inflammation response and bone health. Said the company, “Bone Strength Take Care is shown to modulate inflammation and RANKL (Receptor Activator for NuclearFactor K B Ligand)—a molecule that activates the production of osteoclasts, cells responsible for the breakdown of bone.”

Topical Biomedics of Rhinebeck, N.Y. held its “Where in the World is Topricin?” photo contest this fall. Participants submitted photos of their travels with Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream products for the chance to win a year’s supply of products. Second and third prize winners received a gift basket of products and a trio of products, respectively.

The Digital Earth Network of Sarasota, FL launched a mobile landing page creator that lets manufacturers make Web sites that are compatible with smart phones. Non-mobile Web sites are cumbersome on such phones and tablets. According to the group’s president Geoff Robinson, sites easily accessible on smart phones give consumers a stress-free experience. “One in five Americans access mobile web daily. It is not a matter of IF you make a mobile site, it is WHEN,” he states. According to the group, “the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association is using these landing page and QR code generators for the circulars they produce.”

Salt Lake City, UT-based Sibu Beauty is now part of PETA’s cruelty-free program.

Bergstrom Nutrition partnered with Doctor’s Best to provide MSM for all of the company’s joint health products.

The Vitamin D Council has launched a blog at http://blog.vitamindcouncil.org. Content will include blogs from Executive Director Dr. John Cannell, epidemiologist Dr. William Grant and other vitamin D enthusiasts.